Last week the recently released Pharoahe Monch album W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) was number three on the Amoeba chart. This week the powerful, highly recommended release by the longtime emcee & former member of legendary early 90's hip-hop crew Organized Konfusion, who is currently on tour in Europe (he plays Sommercasino in Basel, Switzerland tonight), has the number one selling hip-hop album at the Hollywood Amoeba. Thanks to Ray Ricky Rivera for the latest chart, which also includes Zion I & The Grouch's latest collab, Lupe Fiasco, Far East Movement, and Gucci Mane.

Return of Mr. Zone 6 is the new release from Radic Davis, aka Gucci Mane, who teamed up with his regular production potna Drumma Boy, who produced the majority of this 13 track album, with both Southside and Zaytoven adding production to two other tracks. Cameo mic spots include Waka Flocka Flame, Wale, Master P, OJ Da Juiceman, Cash Money's Baby, Webbie, 8ball, Rocko and Wooh the Kid.

On Thursday, April 7th, longtime Oakland rapper Dub Esquire will be throwing a hometown record release party (he's already done one down in LA) for his new release Rap Starz. If you attend, dress to impress, as the whole party will be recorded by a film crew for the artist's next music video, "Smoke Away The Past." The party kicks off at 9pm on Thursday at The Stork Club. More info here.

The DMC DJ Battlefield 2011 kicked off last weekend in San Antonio, TX, where DJ Qbase of Elmendorf, TX took the top title and runner up was Rob Ohm Ortega from Albuquerque, NM. In third place was The Don Santos aka Santos C. Pastrana III of Houston, TX. Last night was the New Orleans DJ battle and tonight is the Miami DMC DJ Battlefield. More info here.

2011 looks set to be a very busy year for rap pioneer Kool Moe Dee, who started out his career in the late 1970's as part of the legendary rap crew The Treacherous Three before going solo and becoming a major rap star in the 80's, scoring hits with songs like "Wild, Wild, West" (above) and "How Ya Like Me Now," a song that was just one part of his extended very public feud with LL Cool J back in the day.

As well as countless 2011 concert dates planned (he's currently on the road with the Salt n Pepa organized Legends of Hip-Hop Tour with fellow old school acts Kurtis Blow, Biz Markie, Slick Rick, and Doug E Fresh), Kool Moe Dee is reportedly in the studio working on all new album; one that has actually been promised since 2009 when he officially began his return to the rap game after a long hiatus in 2009. When released, the still untitled album will be the artist's first new album since 1994's Interlude on Ichiban Records.

Alternative rapper Lupe Fiasco, whose latest release, Lasers, is number three on this week's Amoeba hip-hop chart, has been added to the bill for next month's UCLA25th annual Jazz/Reggae Festival as one of the headlining acts along with such other acts as Sean Paul. Lupe is scheduled to perform on May 29th -- the "Jam day" of the three day Memorial Weekend festival. More info here.

DaVinci "Blame Game" (2011)

Of the many talents coming out of the Filthy Moe, aka Fillmoe, aka the Fillmore district of SF, perhaps the most promising and likely to break out this year on a national level is the skilled wordsmith DaVinci, who continues to cement the Fillmore district's rep as one of the most influential places in the history of San Francisco hip-hop. DaVinci, whose 2011 releases will include the Feast Or Famine EP and The MOEna Lisa LP, carries on a Fillmore rap legacy that dates back to the 80's with artists like (the still putting it down) Hugh E MC and Rappin 4 Tay. The new Al and Tim Jieh directed video above is for the new DaVinci song "Blame Game" which is produced by Al Jieh with additional vocals by Ammbush.